Since 2016, Deborah has been the Executive Director of Creative Diversity Network, the membership body funded by the UK’s major broadcasters, and production community. Deborah has led the industry charge to bring disability to the diversity conversation and inspired responses from Jack Thorne who quoted diamond data in his MacTaggart Lecture for the Edinburgh TV festival in 2021. This led to coalitions across borders with disabled led organisations coming together to put continuous pressure on the whole industry to become disability inclusive. Change can now be seen in Hollywood, Germany and Australia.

With over 30 years’ experience working above and below the line in television, film and theatre, as well as policy development across the wider creative and cultural industries. She is the architect and designer of the BFI Diversity Standards that were adopted by The Oscars, BIFA and BAFTA in 2020. She is on the board for the anti-racism task force in EU screen and the advisory board for New Dawn – the new filmmaking fund for Europe.

Deborah is known in her own right as an artist provocateur having won awards and nominations nationally and internationally. Her work in theatre is acknowledged as a catalyst for challenge and change in perceptions of disability and difference.

In 2019, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award from Inclusive Companies for her body of work in the area of diversity and culture. She is a three-time Disability Power lister.

In June 2022, Deborah was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Birthday Honours List, for services to Diversity in the Arts and Creative Industries.